Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 24, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1901 — Page 3

The Doctor's Dilemma

CHAPTER XXIV. I, Olivia Foster, take up the thread of the story—the woful, weary narrative of my wanderings after leaving my island friends. Once more I found myself in London. I had inore acquaintance with almost every great city on the Continent. Fortunately, Tardif had given me the address of a boarding house, or rather a small family hotel, where he had stayed two or three times, and I drove there at once. I went to several governess agencies, which were advertising for teachers in the daily papers. When a fortnight had passed with no opening for me, I felt it necessary to leave the boarding house which had been my temporary home. Wandering about the least fashionable suburbs, where lodgings would cost least, I found a bedroom in the third story of a house in a tolerably respectable street. In this feverish solitude one day dragged itself after another with awful monotony. As they passed by, the only change they brought was that the sultry heat grew ever cooler, and the long days shorter. Think what a dreary life for a young girl! I was as fond of companionship, and needed love as much as any girl. Was it strange -that my thoughts dwelt somewhat dangerously upon the pleasant, peaceful days in Sark? Now and then, when I ventured out into the streets, a panic would seize me, a dread unutterably great, that I might meet my husband amidst the crowd. I did not even know that he was in London; he had always spoken of it as a place he detested. His habits made the free, unconventional life upon the Continent more agreeable to him. How he was living now, what he was doing, where he was, were so many enigmas to me; and I did not care to run any risk in finding out the answers to them. Twice I passed the Bank of Australia, where very probably I could have learned if he was in the same city as myself; but I dared not do it, and as soon as I knew how to avoid that street, I never passed along it. „ I had been allowed to leave my address with the clerk of a large general agency in the city. Towards the close of October I received a note from him, desiring me to call at the office at two o’clock the following afternoon, without fail. I had a long time to wait. The office clock pointed to half-past three before I caught the clerk's eye, and saw him beckon me up to the counter. I had thrown back my veil, for here I was perfectly safe from recognition. At the other end of the counter stood a young man in consultation with a clerk. He looked earnestly at me, but I was sure he could not know me. “Miss Ellen Martineau?” said the clerk. That was my mother’s name, and I had adopted it for my own, feeling as if 1 had some right to it. “Yes,” I answered. “Would you object to go into a French school as governess?” he inquired. “Not in the least,” I said eagerly. “And pay a small premium?” he addad. “How much?” I asked, my spirits falling .again. “A mere trifle,” he said; “about ten pounds or so for twelve months. You would perfect yourself in French, you know; and you would gain a referee for the future.” “I must think about it,” I replied. “Well, there is the address of a lady wh* can give you all the particulars,” he said, handing me a written paper. I left the Office heavy hearted. Ten pounds would be more than the half of the little store left to me. Yet, would it not be wiser to secure a refuge and shelter for twelve months than run the risk of not finding any other situation? I walked slowly along the street towards the busier thoroughfares, with my head bent down and my mind busy, when suddenly a heavy hand was laid upon my arm, grasping it with crushing force, and a harsh, thick voice shouted triumphantly in my ear: “I’ve caught you at last!’” It was like the bitterness of death, that chill and terror sweeping over me. My husband’s hot breath was upon my cheek, and his eyea were looking closely into mine. But before I could speak his grasp was torn away from me, and he was sent whirling into the middle of the road. I turned, almost in equal terror, to see who had thrust himself between us. It was a stranger whom I had noticed in the agency office. But his face was how dark with passion, and as my husband staggered back again towards us, his hand was ready to thrust him away a second time. “She’s my wife,” he stammered, trying to get past the stranger to me. By this time a knot of spectators had formed about us, and a policeman had come up. The stranger drew my arm through his, and faced them defiantly. “He’s a drunken vagabond!” he said; "he has just come out of those spirit vaults. This young lady is no more his wife than she is mine, and I know no more of her than that she has just come away from Ridley’s office, where she has been looking after a situation. Good heavens! cannot a lady walk through the streets of London without being insulted by a drunken scoundrel like that?” “Will you give him in charge, air?” asked the policeman, wMle Richard Foster was making vain efforts to speak coherently, and explain his clajm upon me. I clung to the friendly arm that had come to my aid, sick and almost speechless with fear. “Don’t," I whispered; "oh! take me away quickly.” He cleared a passage for us both with a vigor and decision that there was no resisting. I glanced back for an instant, and saw my husband struggling with the policeman. He looked utterly • unlike a gay, prosperous, wealthy man, with a well-filled purse, such as he had Used to appekr. He was shabby and poor enough now for the policeman to be very hard on him, and to prevent him from following me. The stranger kept my hand firmly on his arm, and almost carried me into Fleet street, where in a minute

By Hesba Stretton

or two we were quite lost in the throng, and I was safe from all pursuit. “I do not know how to thank you,” I said, jalterihgly. * “You are trembling still!” he replied. “How lucky it was that I followed you directly out of Ridley’s! If I ever come across that scoundrel again I shall know him, you may be sure. My name is John Senior. Perhaps you -have heard of my father, Dr. Senior of Brook street?” “No,” replied, “I know nobody in London.” “That’s bad,” he SRjd. “I wish I waa Jane Senior instead of John Senior; I do indeed. Do you feel better now, Miss Martineau?” “How do you know my name?” I asked. “The clerk at Ridley’s called you Miss Ellen Martineau,” he answered. “My hearing is very good, and I was not deeply engrossed in my business. I heard and saw a good deal whilst I was there.” He called an empty cab that was passing by. We shook hands warmly. There was.no time for loitering; so I told him the name of the. suburb where I was living, and he repeated it to the cabman. “All right,” he said, speaking through the window, “the fare is paid and I’ve taken cabby’s number. If he tries to cheat you, let me know; Dr. John Senior, Brook street. I hope that situation will be a good one, and very pleasant. Goodby.” “Good-by,” I cried, leaning forward and looking at his face till the crowd came between us, and I lost sight of it. I felt safer when the cabman set me down at the house where I lodged, and I ran upstairs to my little room. I kin-

died the fire. Then I sat down on my box before it, thinking. Yes: 1 must leave London. I must take this situation,, the only one .open to me, in a school in France. I should at least be assured of a home for twelve months; and, as the clerk had said, I should perfect myself in French and gain a referee. I should be earning a character in fact. The sooner I fled .from London again the better, now that I knew my husband was somewhere in it. I unfolded the paper on which was written the name of the lady to whom I was to apply. Mrs. Wilkinson, 19 Bellringer street. I ran down to the sitting room, to ask my landlady where it was, and told her, in my new hopefulness, that I had heard of a situation in FraAce. Bellringer street was less than a mile away. I could be there before seven o’clock, not too late Mrs. Wilkinson to give me an interview. No. 19 was not difficult to find, and I pulled the bell handle with a gentle and quiet pull. A slight, thin child in rusty mourning opened it, with the chain across, and asked in a timid voice who I was. “Does Mrs. Wilkinson live here?” I asked. “Yes,” said the child. “Who is there?” I heard a voice calling shrilly from within. ♦ “I am come about a school in France,” I said to the child. “Oh, I’ll let you in,” she answered eagerly; "she will see you about that, I’m sure. I’m to go with you, if you go.” She let down the chain, and opened the door. There was a dim light burning in the hall, which looked shabby and poverty stricken. I had only time to take a vague general impression, before the little girl conducted me to a room on the ground floor. “I’m to go if you go,” she said again; “and, oh! I do so hope you will agree to go.” “I think I shall,” I answered. “I daren’t be sure,” she replied, nodding her head with an air of sagacity; “there have been four or five governesses here, and none of them wonld go. You'd have to take me with you; and, oh! it is such > lovely, beautiffil place. See! here is a picture of it.” She ran eagerly to a side table, on which lay a book or two, one of which she opened, and reached out a photograph, which had been laid there for security. It was clear, sharply At the left hand stood a handsome house, with windows covered with lace curtains, and provided with outer Venetian shutters. In the center stood a large square garden, with fountains, and arbors and statues; and behind this stood a long building of two stories, and a steep roof with dormer windows, every casement of which was provided, like the house in the front, with rich lace curtains and Venetian shutters. The whole place was clearly in good order and good taste, and looked like a very pleasant home. “Isn’t it a lovely placet’ asked the child beside me, with a deep sigh of longing.

“SENT WHIRLING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.”

"Yes,” I said; “I should like to go.” I had had time to make all these ob* nervations before the owner of the for* eign voice, which I had heard at the door, came in. At the first glance I knew her to be a Frenchwoman. Her black eyes were steady and cold, and her general expression one of watchfulness. _ “I have not the honor of knowing you,” she said politely. “I come from Ridley’s Agency office,” I answered, “about a situation as English teacher in a school in France.” “It is a great, chance,” she said, “my friend, Madame Perrier, is very good, very amiable for her teachers. She is like a -sister for them. The terms are very high, very high for France; but there is absolutely every comfort. I suppose you could introduce a few English pupils.” “No,” I answered, “I am afraid I could not. I am silre I could not.” “That of course must be considered in the premium,” she continued; “if you could have introduced, say, six pupils, the premium would be low. I do not think my friefid would take one penny less than twenty pounds for the first year, and ten for the second.” The tears started to my eyes. I had felt so sure of going if I would pay ten pounds, that I was quite unprepared for this disappointment. There was still my diamond ring left; but how to dispose of it, for anything like its value, I did not know. ■ ... • “What were you prepared to give?” asked Mrs. Wilkinson, whilst I hesitated. “The clerk at Ridley’s office told me the premium would be ten pounds,” I answered; “I do not see how I can give more.” _ “Well,” she said, after musing a little, “it is time this child went. She has been here a month, waiting for semebody to take her down to Noireau. I will agree with you, and will explain to Madame Perrier. How soon could you go?” “I shotfld like to go to-morrow,” I replied, feeling that the sooner I quitted London the better. Mrs. Wilkinson’s steady eyes fastened upon me again with sharp curiosity.” “Have you references, miss?” she asked.

“No,” I faltered, my hopes sinking again before this old difficulty. “It will be necessary, then,” she said, “for you to give the money to me, and I will forward it to Madame Perrier. Pardon, miss, but you perceive I could not send a teacher to them unless I knew that she could pay the money down.” I did not waver any longer. The prospect seemed too promising for me to lose it by any irresolution. I drew out my purse, and laid down two out of the three five-pound notes left me. She gave me a formal receipt in the names of Emile and Louise Perrier, and her sober face wore an expression of satisfaction. “There! it is done,” she said. “You will take lessons, any lessons you please, from the professors who attend the school. It is a grand chance, miss, a grand chance. Let us say you go the day after to-morrow; the child will be quite ready. She is going for four years to that splendid place, a place for ladies of the highest degree.” At that moment an imperious knock sounded upon the outer door, and the little girl ran to answer it, leaviug the door of our room open. A voice which I knew well, a voice which made my heart stand still and my veins curdle, spoke in sharp, loud tones in the hall. “Is Mr. Foster come home yet?” were the words the terrible voice uttered, quite close to me it seemed; so close that I shrank back shivering, ns if every'syllable struck a separate blow. All my senses were awake; I could hear every sound in the hall, each step that came nearer and nearer. Was she about to enter the room where I was sitting? She stood still for half a minute as if uncertain what to do. “He is upstairs,” said the child’* voice. “He told me he was ill when I opened the door for him.” “Where is Mrs. Wilkinson?” she asked. “She is here,” said the child, "but there’s a lady with her.” Then the woman’s footsteps went on up the staircase. I listened to them climbihg up one step after another, my brain throbbing with each sound, and I heard a door opened^!nd closed. Mrs. Wilkinson had gone to the door, and looked out into the hall, as if expecting other questions to be asked. She had not seen my panic of despair. I must get away before I lost thfe use of my senses, for I felt giddy and faint. (To be continued.)

American Supremacy.

First London Burglar—Eh, Jimmy, wot you doin’ around here? W’y ain’t you at work. Second Burglar—Aw, I’m all right I’m waitin’. “Waitin’ for what?” “For my new Yankee tools to arrive.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Lowest of Known Tides.

The lowest tides, where any exist at all, are at Panama, where two feet I* the average rise and falL

AGRICULTURAL

For Fastening Horae*. With some horses there is always constant trouble when they are at the manger, by getting their feet over the rope which fastens them to the stall. Of course, this can be obviated by shortening the rope, Hut this Is not advisable where the horse is locked up for the night after the feed is put in the box, for the short rope does not give him the opportunity of lying down In a comfortable position. The trouble indicated can be remedied by use of a halter ring fastened on the strap going over the nose of the horse instead of under the jaw as usual. The rope is attached to this ring, and then run through a staple in the wall directly in

GOOD HORSE FASTENER.

front of the horse- in the back of the manger, as shown in the cut. By attaching a weight of some kind to the end of the rope to keep it taut, there will be no trouble caused by this rope getting in the way, for when the horse moves toward the manger the weight will carry the rope down. The weight should not be heavy enough to inconvenience the animal when he is lying down at the full length of the rope.

Care of Winter Apple*. Apples marketed during the winter always bring a much higher price than when offered for sale just after harvest. Of course, it Is well understood that It Is impossible to keep apples through the winter for the high prices of early spring unless they are kept in cold storage, but with an ordinary storehouse, or a good cellar, it is possible to keep the fruit several months longer by handling it properly. It should be carefully picked from the tree, and be free from imperfections or bruises. In putting it into the barrels, the barrels should be laid partially on one side so that the fruit may be turned into it from a small basket and roll to the bottom rather than fall. In this way there is little chance of the apples becoming bruised. Great care should be taken to see that the fruit is so packed that there will be little or no space between the specimens, and they should be packed into the barrel as firmly as possible without enough pressure to bruise them. After the barrel is filled, it should be carefully hooped, and the head put in so that it will hold the top layer.flrm, but not with much pressure. Apples packed in this way can be kept until midwinter easily if stored in a building where they will not freeze, and where the ajr is reasonably dry.—lndianapolis News. r -

Rimpl" Fwincintr Tronsh. I have a {eed trough which I made myself out of a piece of galvanized iron, writes a correspondent of Poultry Keeper. It is three and one-half feet long. To make it, get two pieces of wood and shape them to fit the inside of the trough for the ends as shown in the diagram. Nail well with lath nails. If you want one for water, make it shorter, and before putting the end pieces on paint a piece of cloth and place between the end pieces and the trough. Then after you have your end pieces on, get a piece of lath just long enough to fit between the ends and nail It lengthwise just above the level of the trough. This will keep the chickens out

SWINGING TROUGH.

of the water. Put two eyes on the top of the pieces to hang it by. Drive •takes in th* ground just far enough apart to let the trough swing. Put pins In the top of the stakes to fit the eyes on the end pieces of the trough. The top of the trough should be about six inches above the ground. You can use your judgment about painting it. If you do, put some water In it and let It Stand about a day before allowing the chickens access to It Prrvrentlo>» of Interfering. The interfering of horses can oftentimes be remedied, especially if the animal Interferes b>. front The feet nbonM

be trimmed so that they are level, and the animal should be shod with a small outside calkin at the heel outside. The inside heel should be plain and short. Have the calkins placed on each side of the shoe about two inches from the toe. Interfering sometimes comes eral debility of the horse, and when this seems to be the case the animal should be brought up. in every way possible, feeding it on oats and bran with good hay. Of course the interfering which is brought about by general debility, is caused by the weakness of the ankles. This, however, is not often the case.

Fall Planting. With nearly all fruit trees, except peaches, which must be planted in the spring, there is to be said in favor of fall planting, that the soil can be put In better condition at less expense of time and labor than in the spring. The planter generally has more time to devote to the work in the fall, and hence can do it much better. Then, too. the trees from the nursery are generally in better condition than after they have passed through a winter. The nurserymen also have fewer orders in the fall, and can give more care to filling orders at this season, and generally furnish better stock. Even with the more tender sorts it is possible to give them needed protection during the first winter by throwing a furrow toward the trees on either side. Unless there is a large area to be planted and other work seriously interferes, everything is in. favor of fall planting.

Flavor in Kalf-Grown Chick*. There is considerable complaint every year on the part of consumers that the half-grown chicks marketed as roasters have a very undesirable flavor*/ There is no doubt that in nearly every case it is due to a poor quality of food given the growing chicks. Meals of various kinds, usually cornmeal, is fed largely to growing chicks in some sections. When bought at the low price it is generally found that it is filled with worms. This sort of food given to chicks will taint the flesh every time. It is hard to understand why those who raise fowls for market will persist in buying cheap foods. If the chick is worth raising at all it is worth being fed on the best obtainable. If given the best grains in variety, and a good grass range, there is no reason why the flavor of the growing chick should not be all that is desired.—Exchange. Block for Cutting Corn. When it is necessary to cut the ears of corn into small pieces for economical feeding, unless one has a device for.it, there is considerable danger of the person cutting the corn being Injured. One plan is simply to attach a board to a chopping block, cutting a hole in one

BLOCK FOR CUTTING CORN.

edge large enough for the ears of corn to pass through on to the block. This board should be about ten inches wide. By slipping the ear of corn through the hole, the chopping is done on one side of the guard, while the ear of corn is held on the other side, so that it is impossible for one in any way to Injure the hand holding the corn. An opening in the board above the hole is made for convenience in handling the block.

Vegetables for Poultry. During the summer months on every farm there are large quantities of vegetables too small for table use, which usually go to waste. It will pay to gather up these vegetables and feed them daily to the poultry. Even If the flock of fowls Is on the range, the feeding of these odd vegetables chopped fine will furnish variety which will do the fowls good. In the fall when potatoes and other root crops are harvested, there is always a qifantlty which Is unsalable, but which might be kept with care for several months. It always pays to do this, feeding these root crops at least once a day during the winter. Even after the home crop is used up, it pays to buy small potatoes, cabbages, and other green crops for poultry food. Australian Apples. Parts of Australia are becoming lively rivals to Canada and the United States in the European apple trade. Tasmania, especially, has been found a first-class apple-raising country. There are 8,373 acres in apple orchards there and the product in 1890 was 363.915 bushels. Dark Stables. Dark stables are as Injurious to cows or horses as a dungeon Is to a man. It is the basement barns for milk cows that have developed tuberculosis to such an aburetaff evnMak,

INDIANA INCIDENTS.

RECORD OF EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK. . _ Eec'aion Will Help Hural School*—Typhoid Fever Among Num at Oldenburg—Reclaiming Kankakee Swamp —Married at Fifty Miles an Hoar. The centralization of school* in rural districts and the free transportation of the pupils in public conveyance* to and froffi schools is rapidly growing in favor throughout Indiana. This experiment was first tried in Delaware County, where the schools were consolidated, and proved a great success. The plan was originated by Charles A. Van Metre, the youngest, school superintendent in the State, being only 31 years of age. The authority of trustees to transport school children to school has been the only hindrance to the success of the plan. The question is one that has been long pending and great interest attaches to the recent decision on the matter which State Superintendent Jones has handed down. It is regarded as final in the matter and trustees have only 1 to act. Mr. Jones says that it has been' conceded for years that township trustees have almost unlimited powers and rights to organize and conduct their schools. In conclusion Mr. Jones says it would be just as reasonable for one to assert that the trustees cannot buy a bell -for his school house or nails with which to make repairs or an encyclopedia as to assert that the trustee cannot transport children to school at public expense. Typhoid Fever Rage* in Convent. An epidemic of typhoid fever is raging within the confines of the Catholic convent of the Immaculate Conception at Oldenburg. Thirty nuns have fallen victims to this dread disease and several have died from its effects. The epidemic is more serious from the fact that no men physicians are allowed within the walla of the convent, the rules of the institution being strict in the extreme. The source of the epidemic is believed to have been in the four wells which supply the convent with drinking water. Kankakee Swamp la The Kankakee swamp, so famous twenty years ago for its Vast stretches of morass, is now practically reclaimed to cultivation as the result of patient work. The myriads of water fowl now only pay the region fleeting visits to the disgust of sportsmen. The broad river of old ha* dwindled to an insignificant stream, choked with sandbars. The swamp now produces some of the best Com in the country. Wed at Fifty Mile* an Hour. John Sanderson and Miss Josephine Breitenbach of Greentown were married on the Clover 'Leaf passenger train, between that place and Kokomo. At a given signal of the engineer, while the cars were going fifty miles an hour, the couple stood up and were married by Mayor Rogers of Greentown.

Within Our Borders. Richmond has seven smallpox cases. Crawfordsville may get an ice plant. Anderson is to have a new business college. Henry John, 72, Laporte County pioneer, is dead. A freight wreck fit Salem blocked the Monon six hours. The Modes-Turner glass factory, Terre Haute, has resumed. . Montgomery County is broke, and the tax levy will have to be raised. Thomas Huey, Muhcie, lost a foot by being run over by an L. E. & W. train. William Craig, Evansville, stabbed by his brother-in-law. Ollie Funk, is dead. Willie Swift, 12, Yorktown, was klb ed by a Big Four engine in the Yorktown yards. * The Gould steel mill at Irondale has started and will' run a double force all winter. Flora’s biggest factory, the sawmill and planing mill, owned by R. D. V oorhees, burned. A. W. Swanson, aged 45, was killed by a train at Terre Coupee, his body being cut in two. Farmer Tilton of Clay township fired at melon thieves and one lad got a shot through his ear. The C., R. & M. Railroad will cross the center of Marion’on elevated tracks, on a trestle 2,100 feet long. Rev. Dr. J. W. Turner of Evansville has accepted a call to the First Methodist Church of Decatur. 111. Mrs. Louisa Schnatzmeier, 100, Columbus, is dead. She leaves a son, 71, and a daughter, 76. She was born in Prussia. During a severe storm seventeen out of a herd of nineteen cattle belonging to Alfred Nickey, near Churubusco, wero killed by lightning. The 10-months-old child of Fred Erdman and wife, Greensburg, swallowed a beauty pin and chain, with the pin open. It lodged in the child’s throat, but was finally swallowed. The child will recover. Thomas Shepperd, who was released from the Michigan City prison after serving a sentence of twenty-two years for murder, has just been married at Sullivan to a Miss Johnson, the sweetheart of his yoqth. State Gas Inspector Leach said, at Marion, that the oil wella are not wasting as much gas as supposed. The law, he says, gives the well owners fortyeight hours in which to shut off the gas escaping from newly opened wells. The Collier Shovel Company of Washington has been consolidated with the Chicago Steel Manufacturing Company of Chicago, and the plant will probably bo moved to Hammond. The capital of the consolidated concern will be $650,000. Claus Johnson, formerly of Laporte, was killed by a Lake Shore train near New Carlisle. '■ •' William Cullers was found- hanging in his barn east of Auburn. He had used a hitch strap. No cause known. Mrs. Catherine Hook. Laporte, discovered that ahe had been declared insane and attempted to kill herself with arsenfc. David Matthews, a well-known dtimn of Frankfort, has been indicted, charged with raising thistles. It is the first case under the new law.